The Devil and Tom Walker Group

Question:

the1tromboner
the1tromboner
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the climax and resolution for the story, "The Devil and Tom Walker?"

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Posted by the1tromboner on Monday December 8, 2008 at 8:21 AM and tagged with climax, devil, resolution, the devil and tom walker, tom walker, washington irving.

Answers:

  1. susanr2
    susanr2 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    This is a short story so you should be able to re-read it to verify this answer...

    The way to identify the climax of a story is to find the point everything else in the story is leading up to. After that point the rest of the story changes.

    For this story--By the middle of the plot Tom has become a loan shark and is constantly cheating people out of money. Eventually he becomes fearful for the after-life. (this is leading up to the climax--hinting at a problem to come) He then starts to become fiercely dedicated to God, always keeping a Bible at hand. One day, a person who had borrowed money from him and is asking for mercy blames Tom for taking his money. Tom says, "The Devil take me if I have made but a farthing!" (this is right before the climax)

    CLIMAX POINT--At this time, there are three loud knocks at the door. Tom is drawn towards the black cloaked figure and realizes, in horror, that he has left his Bible at his desk.

    RESOLUTION--Tom Walker is then taken away by the Devil on the back of a black horse and is never seen again. All his assets vanished and his house burned to the ground. The ghost of the miser - haunts the site of the old fort.

    The resolution is just the end of the story where all the loose ends are tied up. Basically "what finally happened"

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/devil-tom/

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    Posted by susanr2 on Monday December 8, 2008 at 9:29 AM